Monday, 13 September 2010

I wish I was as clever as Jenn over at Our Daily Big Top... the way she documents the first day of school for her kids. I might just make signs for the 3rd week of school - you know, just to be in with the cool kids :)

We had such a terrific summer. I was sad to see it end and have school start. It's amazing how we are already into a new routine + I am loving it. I feel organized once again :) The kids have started at a new school. This is the first time they are taking the bus. I have gained over two hours of my day not sitting in a drop off/pick up line. Can you say, yipee?

I do miss spending time with the kids. They are growing up so fast. Remember when Davis was just two? William was four? Whoever said, "The days are long, but the years fly by." totally had it right.

Fearful of being compared to the boy that cried wolf, I am reticent to say I'm going to be back in this space more often, but I am going to try. Honest. When I look back at this blog, I am reminded of so many memories. It's really a wonderful way to remember and capture the everday moments.

Monday, 19 July 2010

Not sure if it was the sand, the wind, or the coconut suntan lotion, but here is Davis, in her full, "clair hair" glory. For those of you LOST impaired, the "clair hair" reference is to a character on the TV show, who went insane on the island. Clair's hair represented her lunacy + it became her signature :) It's quickly becoming Davis's too :)

Whenever we get back from the beach/pool or any activity, Davis refuses to let me comb her hair, hence she ends up with major "clair hair". She looks nutso. But an adorable nutso :)

I really love the upper righthand photo of her... so I cropped it.Love the energy + her expression. Priceless.

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

Working on a logo for a yoga clothing line, marketed to both women + men. Audience 16-65 in age. Pretty broad based. It wasn't till after phase 1 {where I do a lot of conceptual work} that the client mentioned he didn't want the mark to be, well, "too yoga-looking". Figures. He then changed his mind again during phase 2 :) Yoga-looking was ok.

Here are a couple of contenders.

I started out working with an eclipse-amoeba shape and played with it. Hence #9... the two eclipses formed an "s" and resembled the "ying + yang" mark. {Oh the name starts with an "S"}

#2 + #3 I incorporated with the letter "i" in the name... you know, replacing the dot over the "i".

I thought something simple + clean would work best. I wanted to show movement without being so literal. I love when a couple of shapes can evoke a feeling + attitude.

Monday, 12 July 2010

Being the "pod" parent for Davis's class I was in charge of the end of the year teacher's gift. {fun!} Seeing that we all loved, loved, loved Kassandra + Judy { their teacher + her assistant} I had no problem collecting monies for a nice gift. I thought of a charm bracelet – thinking each year their classroom could give them a charm, and at the end of their teaching career they would have this beautiful memento of their school days. Way better than a, "world's best teacher" mug, right?

Off to the jewelry store I went, where I decided on Pandora Bracelets. I was able to get them a bracelet and three charms. Davis wanted to give them a charm just from our family, so she picked out a ladybug charm.

My favorite part of gift giving? Wrapping. I made origami boxes from wrapping paper, had Davis draw me a flower + a ladybug and I made special cards for them. Pretty ribbon + some sand dollars topped them off. They came out lovely. Both Kassandra + Judy loved the bracelets almostas much as they love our kids :)

Sunday, 02 May 2010

When we were visiting Faneuil Hall a few weeks ago, we saw that the Big Apple Circus was in town. We decided to take the kids later that week. I am so glad we did. What a great show. We had a blast. Our seats were front and center. We were so entertained. Surprisingly, both Davis and I were loving Bello the clown. I guess he's not your typical, creepy, freaky clown. Boy, is that guy is talented. If you get the chance, GO. The big tent is here, in Boston, till May 16th.

Friday, 30 April 2010

For those of you who live in Boston, when was the last time you hung out in Faneuil Hall Marketplace? For me, it had been well over ten years since I had been there. We decided it would be fun to bring the kids there. So one warm afternoon, during their Spring break we took a trip downtown or rather, to Government Center. We had fun + felt totally like tourists :)

Will + Davis had balloon hats crafted by Rami Salami, the clown. A surly fellow, with a sense of humor befitting adults. I should mention, Davis hates clowns. I had to convince her that he wasn't scary and he was nice.{This from a self proclaimed, coulrophobic. I don't know what it is,
but clowns just freak me out :)} Ha. His name alone broadcasts, "warning, warning i am not normal, I'm a clownl" :)

Anyway, the lure of having a balloon hat overrode this fear + the hats came out great.

Later that day we watched another street performer. I forget the guy's name, but he was basically an escape artist. I don't know what disturbed me more, the guy hanging upside down trying to get out of a straight jacket, or both my kids saying, I hope he falls! What? What happened to my sweet kids!?

Wednesday, 21 April 2010

Is it me... or does this year seem to be flying by? Next week, it's May. Good grief. Let's slow it down :)

I've been busy with work, family and prepping my gardens. The kids are on vacation this week and since Neal is working on a huge contract we can't take time off. Which is fine by me. I'm enjoying the down time.

My sister Renée bought a pug a few days ago. That would be Gracie in the photos above. Cute huh? We have babysat her a couple of times. The kids LOVE her. Montana, my yellow lab, not so much. It just confirmed what I thought...bringing another dog into our home would be unfair to Montana. He had no tolerance for Gracie, which I found pretty amusing. Unlike me, who wants time to slow down, you could tell Montana was thinking, grow up pup, and then, maybe we'll play :)

Friday, 12 February 2010

I saw this idea in a magazine a few years ago and I've been itching to make them ever since. I get such a kick out of making stuff like this :)

It's not too late to make these... it is easy + does not take long to do.

1. Have your kids pose for you. Keep in mind the shape of their arms/hands.2. Next, download the photos to your computer. If you have Photoshop or an image editor, clean, sharpen and brighten the photos.3. I prefer to work in a vector-based program when I'm dealing with type. {photoshop is pixel-based... so type is never crisp} So I opened up InDesign + created a 4 x 6 document. I decided to make life easy for myself and bought glossy 4 x 6 photo paper to print on. You could always create 2 up on an 8.5 x 11 sheet. Place the photos into your document. Crop and adjust the photo.4. Next, I added the text, keeping in mind where the lollipop sticks would be. 5. I then printed out over 50 photos. 6. You can buy any kind of pop to use, but earlier in the week the kids and I made homemade dark chocolate lollipops. {when I say the kids helped, I mean, they taste-tested)7. Using my exacto knife, I placed 2 cuts above + below the kids hands. 8. I then pushed the lollipop stick into the slits - no need for glue or tape if you are using heavy stock. You might need tape if you are using thin paper. 9. Double check your list of names... you are done :)

I'm heading into School to set up the Valentine's celebration for Davis's class. I made heart shaped sugar cookies for a class treat. I dipped one side into dark chocolate and then sprinkled some coloured jimmies on top. For William's class treat, I went a little healthier... I bought a box of crackers + a huge block of cheddar cheese. I then used a little heart shaped cutter to form heart shaped cheese pieces. Davis is wearing her red tutu. Looking tres chic. I wish I could pull this look off :)

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

Have you ever found a store that makes you swoon? No? Well, check out Cox & Cox, a lovely online store. I'll take one of each please :)

Bracing for another snow storm. Seeing that it is just the beginning of February and I live in the North East, I have no right to complain about snow. If this were March 25th, I might grumble a bit... but now, I won't. Off to pick up the kids... it's a half day due to the storm. Yipee! We're making heart shaped sugar cookies today and some chocolate lollipops for Valentines :) ciao~

Saturday, 06 February 2010

This quote really resonated with me as I'm wanting to make some changes in my life. But I need some inspiration to get there... I'm feeling stuck. Anyone have any suggestions? What inspires you? Motivates you?

Wednesday, 03 February 2010

Last December I got a new smartphone – A Palm Pixi. It was love at first email :)

I was hi-tech before this... just in a low-tech
sorta of way :) I had a cellphone. I could play games like Tetris on it :) and I
have an iTouch. Which I love. Want to see my kids? Look. Want to play a
round of Baker's Dozen? Deal. Want to hear the latest Lady GaGa song?
Listen. Being an Apple kinda girl, most people thought I'd have an
iPhone. But our long-term contract with Sprint + thoughts of penalties kept me
at bay.

December came around and Neal began traveling more and
so while up North we visited a Sprint store. We learned we were both
eligible for an upgrade and took the plunge into the smartphone
territory. The Palm Pixi functions much like the iPhone. It's just not
as big. It's sleek and powerful. It has tons of applications, the internet,
and email – my most favorite function. Oh joy. I feel so connected.

As much as I love having it I will never jeopardize my life, my families life, or anyone else life and use it while I'm driving. I do not dial + drive. Ten years ago we managed to get by without emailing, texting and
calling from our cars. Now, 4 out of 5 drivers are using their phones while driving.
Some mornings I seriously fear for my life while
I take my walk with Montana. It's not enough that I have to dodge the potholes, the stray dogs + the
speed demons. But now I have to be on the look out for crazy ass
drivers on the phone.

I'm starting to think... are people afraid of being alone? Think about it. The car is one place where many people are
alone for an hour or so commuting. Maybe that freaks people out. Me? I
LOVE to be alone in the car. It's one of my biggest pleasure in a day. Driving.
Singing. Thinking. Oh the joy to be in the car alone. Sometimes I don't
even turn on the radio. Silence is golden. shhhh. Hear that? Oh damn. It's my phone :)

So what's your take? Do you dial + drive? Love to hear what you think.

Thursday, 28 January 2010

We are only one month into the new year and I have had six new orders for silkscreen custom ribbon. Today the last two orders were put in the mail. Phew. My gocco machine sure got a work out. As did my arms. Trust me when I say, it becomes tiresome lifting the lever up and down while checking registration and making sure the ink is printing nicely and not drying out. Like many of us, the gocco can be temperamental :)

What was nice, other than the obvious... making some money... all of the orders were very different. For one of the orders, I printed on 7/8" black satin ribbon with silver ink. It came out beautiful. The women who ordered it plan to use it for some valentine's packaging. How pretty is that going to look?

The very fragrant Meredith from Sweet Anthem asked me to print 20 yards of white satin 3/8" ribbon with brown ink. She sent me her logotype and I printed it on the ribbon. I think it came out so great! She is going to use it for her packaging too. Sweet Anthem is a small socially conscious and vegan-friendly artisan
perfume shop from Seattle, WA run by perfumer & designer Meredith
Tucker. How lovely would it be to receive one of her packages? Check out her shoppe, think Valentine's Day + just because days!

Tamami from Tamami Ko Bag is a repeat customer. She is so lovely to work with. She ordered 30 yards of .5 inch natural herringbone 100% cotton ribbon. I love the simplicity of her label. It is just her shoppe name in black. It's so understated...and looks so lovely in her colourful bags. Just love her stuff.

The other three orders I'll post another day. Did not want to overwhelm you with too much ribbon. But I hope to inspire some people out there, who are on the fence about ordering ribbon. I get so many inquiries and only a handful of orders. Just an aside, Tamami garnered over 525 labels from 30 yards of ribbon for less than $150. Not bad, not bad at all :)